27/11/2017 – Current Awareness

‘On 21 November the Ministry of Justice and Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal’s Service issued advice for those concerned about potentially unreliable forensic toxicology (drug) tests in some family cases. The advice also relates to criminal trials, but this post looks at the issue for people who have been involved with a family court case and who are worried that the test results may have been dodgy.’

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Transparency Project, 23rd November 2017

Source: www.transparencyproject.org.uk

English courts committed to high-quality commercial litigation throughout the country, says expert – OUT-LAW.com

Posted November 27th, 2017 in civil procedure rules, courts, electronic filing, London, news, pilot schemes, transfer of proceedings by sally

‘Comments around the launch of the Business and Property Courts (BPC) underline the judicial service’s commitment to high-quality commercial litigation regardless of where a case is filed in England and Wales, an expert has said.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 23rd November 2017

Source: www.out-law.com

’Irrelevant’ criminal record checks harm ex-offenders’ job hopes – The Guardian

Posted November 27th, 2017 in criminal records, disclosure, employment, freedom of information, news, rehabilitation, statistics by sally

‘The criminal records system is hampering the rehabilitation of ex-offenders, according to new figures. Nearly three quarters of the million or so convictions revealed to employers each year in criminal records checks are more than a decade old. Only around 5,000 – one in 197 – are considered relevant to a person’s job application.’

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The Guardian, 25th November 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Drone users will be forced to sit safety tests as number of near misses with planes increases by 60 per cent – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 27th, 2017 in aircraft, bills, endangering safety of aircraft, health & safety, news, police, regulations by sally

‘Drone users will be forced to sit safety tests under a government clampdown after near misses with planes have increased by 60 per cent in a year.’

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Daily Telegraph, 26th November 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

District wins first ever judicial review challenge to decision of planning inspector – Local Government Lawyer

Posted November 27th, 2017 in appeals, judicial review, local government, news, planning by sally

‘Tendring District Council has won its first ever judicial review challenge over a decision of a planning inspector.’

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Local Government Lawyer, November 2017

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Gig economy reform – how to balance innovation and the protection of workers – Technology Law Update

Posted November 27th, 2017 in bills, employment, flexible working, news, reports, select committees by sally

‘The position of workers in the gig economy, those on zero hours contracts and agency workers has been the focus of political attention recently. While these models provide valuable flexibility to businesses, especially those using innovative technology like using an app or a website to hire someone for a particular task, they can leave individuals with insecure incomes and future prospects, and unprotected from exploitative companies. They can also leave the most responsible businesses at a disadvantage.’

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Technology Law Update, 23rd November 2017

Source: www.technology-law-blog.co.uk

No overcrowding link to prison suicide, study suggests – BBC News

Posted November 27th, 2017 in mental health, news, prisons, suicide by sally

‘There is no clear link between prison suicides and overcrowding behind bars, an international study has suggested.’

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BBC News, 25th November 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Electronic tag misuse inquiry leads to 29 people charged – BBC News

Posted November 27th, 2017 in conspiracy, electronic monitoring, inquiries, news, perverting the course of justice by sally

‘Two former staff at the Electronic Monitoring Service (EMS) are among 29 people charged after an inquiry into the misuse of tags fitted on offenders.’

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BBC News, 27th November 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Number of young people acting as ‘money mules’ doubles – BBC News

Posted November 27th, 2017 in fraud, money laundering, news, young persons by sally

‘The number of young people caught acting as “money mules” has doubled in the past four years, according to the UK’s fraud prevention service, Cifas.’

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BBC News, 27th November 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Proposed law would add mothers’ names to marriage certificates in England and Wales – The Guardian

Posted November 27th, 2017 in bills, documents, marriage, news, women by sally

‘Mothers’ names could be added to marriage certificates for the first time if a cross-party group of MPs succeed in changing the wording on the documents, which campaigners say are no longer fit for modern times.’

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The Guardian, 26th November 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Exploring applications for declarations of parentage (Akyuz v Akyuz) – Family Law

Posted November 27th, 2017 in choice of forum, family courts, foreign jurisdictions, jurisdiction, news, paternity, stay of proceedings, time limits by sally

‘Private Client analysis: Michael Wells-Greco, partner at Charles Russell Speechlys, examines the issues in Akyuz v Akyuz and examines whether an application for a declaration of parentage should be dismissed or stayed on the basis of forum non conveniens.’

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Family Law, 24th November 2017

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Home Office review over harassment at abortion clinics – BBC News

Posted November 27th, 2017 in abortion, demonstrations, government departments, harassment, intimidation, legislation, news by sally

‘New laws could be introduced to protect women from harassment outside abortion clinics, the Home Office has said.’

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BBC News, 26th November 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

UK watchdog launches inquiry into teacher who admitted molesting boys – The Guardian

Posted November 27th, 2017 in child abuse, news, professional conduct, sexual offences, teachers by sally

‘The UK teachers’ watchdog has launched an investigation into alleged misconduct by an American teacher who the Guardian revealed was hired by two British schools despite previously admitting molesting boys.’

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The Guardian, 26th November 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

NHS pays out record compensation to cancer patients – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 27th, 2017 in cancer, compensation, damages, freedom of information, health, negligence, news by sally

‘The number of cancer patients successfully suing the NHS for missed diagnoses has doubled in the past five years, new figures show.’

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Daily Telegraph, 26th November 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Guidance on unreliable or manipulated forensic toxicology tests – Family Law

Posted November 27th, 2017 in criminal justice, evidence, family courts, forensic science, Ministry of Justice, news by sally

‘The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has released guidance for those concerned about potentially unreliable forensic toxicology tests. This follows police investigations into the potential manipulation of forensic toxicology test results at two private companies, Trimega Laboratories Limited and Randox Testing Services. The test results were used as expert evidence in England and Wales. The guidance includes examples which aim to help people understand where toxicology tests may have been used as part of decision making in court cases, and provides advice for those who believe their case may have been adversely affected by manipulated test results.’

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Family Law, 24th November 2017

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Cohabiting couples warned of ‘common law marriage’ myths – BBC News

Posted November 27th, 2017 in cohabitation, financial provision, marriage, news, statistics by sally

‘Millions of unmarried couples who live together could be unaware of their rights if the relationship breaks down, a family law group has warned.’

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BBC News, 27th November 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

BSB to lower standard of proof in disciplinary cases as it names new chair – Legal Futures

Posted November 27th, 2017 in barristers, disciplinary procedures, news, professional conduct, standard of proof by sally

‘The standard of proof in disciplinary cases involving barristers is being lowered to the balance of probabilities following a decision yesterday by the Bar Standards Board (BSB).’

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Legal Futures, 24th November 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Dubious forensic evidence? That’s what happens when we sell off public services – The Guardian

Posted November 27th, 2017 in contracting out, criminal justice, evidence, forensic science, news by sally

‘The recent mass review of 10,000 criminal case samples shows what can happen when commercial demands get in the way of vital public services.’

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The Guardian, 27th November 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com